Have you ever wondered about the animals that are kept in zoos? Have you ever thought of zoos as good/bad?
The chief reason for most people’s opposition to zoos, is the removal of wild animals from their natural habitats. They can be restrained from their natural characteristics, and for the most part, zoos are unnatural for them. But let’s delve further into it…
Visiting the zoo is a fun activity, and can allow people that cannot afford to travel abroad, to see exotic animals. But is it fair to keep them captive merely for human enjoyment? These animals have lives as well, and like us, they are just trying to survive on this planet. As a GCSE Classics student, I know that we judge the Romans for capturing animals and using them for human entertainment (for things such as gladiatorial fights). Nowadays however, we are not quite as harsh towards them, but we still hold animals captive for our enjoyment, in zoos.
Furthermore, some would argue that zoos aid our scientific understanding, and that they provide education to people about animal welfare. For example, a study of 26 zoos worldwide (published by Conservation Biology ) showed that visitors increased their knowledge of biodiversity and how individuals are to protect it. However, do zoos really supply us with enough knowledge to justify keeping the animals imprisoned?
On a more positive note, zoos have protected many species from extinction, such as the Bellinger River snapping turtles, Panamanian golden frogs, and Amur leopards. Currently, they are working to save endangered animals such as polar bears, tigers, and wild African elephants. Therefore, zoos can actually be good for animals and keep them safe from the dangers and rapid changes of their natural habitat due to climate change.
All things considered, zoos can be beneficial to in some ways (especially to endangered species), but can also be harmful. They can have psychological tolls, and separate them from their natural habitat.
